Breakfast Quinoa With Fruit and Almonds

{ny times}

Breakfast Quinoa With Fruit and Almonds

Quinoa cooks so quickly that you can make it for breakfast without getting up especially early to do so. But you can save a precious 20 minutes if you cook the quinoa ahead of time.

The trick here is to cook the plums just long enough so that they bleed a little bit, which makes the porridge very pretty, but not so long that they completely break down.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 to 3 plums, pitted and diced
• 1/4 cup dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries or diced apricots
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (more to taste)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
• 24 almonds, halved or slivered
• 4 cups (loosely packed) cooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked)
• Milk or yogurt to taste

Directions:

1. Heat a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, and add the butter. When the sizzling begins to subside, add the plums, dried fruit and cinnamon. Stir gently until the plums begin to break down slightly, one to two minutes, and add the honey or agave nectar and the almonds. Stir together for 30 seconds to a minute, and add the cooked quinoa. Toss the ingredients together gently and heat through. Add milk, if desired, and heat through, stirring. Or serve as is, topped with yogurt if you wish.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: Cooked quinoa will keep for about four days in the refrigerator. The entire dish can be made a day ahead, and reheated in the pan or in a microwave.

Vegan Banana Muffins

 {mango power girl}

Mile End Delicatessen

Bagels from Montreal in Brooklyn (on Hoyt and Pacific)

{looks good to me and mile end delicatessen}

Cheddar, Bacon, Chives Biscuits

I'd like to make a non-dairy version of this...swap out the butter for margarine and then use soymilk (or almond milk) instead of buttermilk.

yield: Makes 12
active time: 25 minutes
total time: 55 minutes

These are great for sandwiches. Just split them in half, slather with some Dijon, pile on thinly sliced ham, and add a lettuce leaf.

Ingredients

• 6 thick-cut bacon slices
• 3 3/4 cups bread flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus melted butter for brushing
• 2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1 3/4 cups chilled buttermilk
• Honey (optional)

Preparation

1. Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop coarsely.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter cubes. Blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Add cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and chopped bacon; toss to blend. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly (batter will feel sticky).
3. Using lightly floured hands, drop generous 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto prepared baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.
4. Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Brush biscuits lightly with melted butter. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or at room temperature with honey, if desired.

{...epicurious}

Christmas Eats

Thinking about what to make on Christmas.

For Breakfast...

Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham, Mustard and Honey

Or these other options look great too:

• Banana Stuffed French Toast with Streusel Topping 
• Almond French Toast
• Upside-Down Apple French Toast with Cranberries and Pecan
• Croissant French Toast with grilled peaches
• Mascarpone and Marmalade Stuffed French Toast
• ...with made-from-scratch Bloody Marys!

Here are some options for dinner...

 Rib Roast from Epicurious

with Alton Brown's Yorkshire Pudding (or this Yorkshire Pudding recipe).

Roast Turkey with Paprika and Thyme

with a side of sweet potato mash.

Toasted Spiced Ham Drizzled in Honey

Aromatic Spiced Ham

 and a side of chutney and Orange Wine Shrimp Cocktails to start.

Viking Style Danish Ham

Cornish Hen

Other options:

• Side of Vanilla Sweet Potatoes
• Side of sweet potato home fries
• Side of Spiced potatoes and spinach
• Side of Sauteed Collard Greens
• Side of Broccoli with toasted garlic and hazelnuts
• Side of Cider-Roasted Vegetables
• Side of Pineapple Rice
• Appetizer of Bulgur, celery and pomegranate salad
• Appetizer of Warm Red Cabbage salad

For Dessert...

Spice kissed Pumpkin Pie

Etc.:

• Mulled Red Wine

Zucchini Bread

I don't bake or cook too often but sometimes I'll see a recipe that has an unusual twist in the ingredients which will convince me to give it a try. The website 101cooking posts a Zucchini Bread recipe that calls for curry powder. I also love any dessert recipes that calls for fruit or vegetables (like carrot cake). Going back to my bacon obsession, I'm considering making bacon muffins--sorta like MacDonald's Mcgriddles. Any advice on how to make this gluttonous treat work is welcomed. I am completely serious. I don't kidd about bacon, blood was shed so I could experience a bit of culinary heaven.